The Microsoft in Power & Utilities blog discusses the emerging technological and economic challenges facing the global Utility industry and how Utilities can innovate through a strategy based on devices and services to transform and grow their business

Join us for a Webcast on The Future of Enterprise Utility Solutions

Today's utilities face the challenges of tighter IT budgets, reduced in-house development staff,and the need to quickly deliver business benefits through applications. Utilities also need to adapt to the rapid changes in smart grid technology, the electricity distribution system of the future.

Telvent and Microsoft are working together to provide integrated solutions that can help utilities meet these challenges and better use their distribution assets for maintenance and growth. By working together to integrate key aspects of their solutions-including Telvent ArcFM Solution-Microsoft SQL Server, and Windows Server-Telvent and Microsoft address the most pressing needs of the smart grid age, including performance metrics, response times, and security.

In May and June 2011, Telvent, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, joined with Microsoft to conduct a series of benchmarking tests to verify the performance and scalability of ArcFM Solution 10.0.1 SP1, which included testing on two core elements - ArcFM and Responder, running on SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise and Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise. The results of the benchmark testing were impressive.

This webcast will detail the results of the benchmark testing as well as provide industry insights to help utility customers understand the value they can derive from Telvent and Microsoft's solutions both today and in the future.

Speakers will share industry insights as well as Microsoft and Telvent's strategy and vision of the ArcFM solutions impact on strategic IT initiatives. This webcast event will give you the opportunity to learn how the partnership between Telvent and Microsoft is bringing game changing technology solutions to the utility industry.

Featured speakers will be:

Mary Ann Stewart Senior Analyst

Sierra Energy Group, the research and analysis Division of Energy Central Mary Ann Stewart is a licensed professional civil engineer with a diverse background in government, research, utility industry and consulting. She has worked in journalism, municipal works engineering, environmental regulatory policy and analysis, Federal research programs, utility IT management, independent power production, and management consulting. A frequent speaker and writer on utility business and IT topics, MS. Stewart is analyst on numerous Sierra Energy publications and research initiatives.

Jon C. Arnold Managing Director, Worldwide Power & Utilities IndustryMicrosoft Corporation As Microsoft's senior executive for Power and Utilities his primary responsibility is to establish and drive Microsoft's industry strategy, which extends his leadership over sales, solutions development, partner activities, marketing, industry standards development, evangelism, industry, government and executive relations, as well as continuing the advancement of Microsoft's worldwide power and utilities team.

Jeffrey R. Meyers, P.E.Smart Grid Executive

TelventJeff Meyers is a second-generation electrical engineer, and former president of Telvent Miner & Miner. In his 30-year utility career, Meyers has designed electric substations and transmission lines, and developed system planning and protection studies. Since 1987, he has worked on more than 50 GIS development projects for a variety of gas, electric and other utilities, based on the developing and evolving technology of ESRI and Telvent. In 2008, he relinquished his role as head of Telvent M&M to focus exclusively on Smart Grid technology.